Neighbor helping Neighbor

Cindy Biebuck (center) and her sons Dusty and Josh talk with Tracy Harvey and her son Zach at the Harvey’s future home in Braceville Thursday. Both families are recipients of homes thanks to Grundy-Three Rivers Habitat for Humanity. The Biebucks break ground on their home – to be located in the empty lot next door to the Harvey home – this weekend. The two families are helping each other build the homes. (Herald photo by Adam Nekola)

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BRACEVILLE – Josh Biebuck is excited for one thing in his family’s new house being built by Grundy-Three Rivers Habitat for Humanity – having his own bed.

The 18-year-old sleeps on the couch in the two-bedroom townhouse the family rents in Gardner.

“This is the first house we’ll be moving into since when we were really little,” Josh Biebuck said. “We lived in an apartment for most of my teen years.”

Cindy Biebuck and her two sons, Josh and Dusty, are the recipients of the local Habitat for Humanity’s seventh home.

This is the eighth project for the organization. The first project was not the construction of a new house, but rehab of a Channahon home.

The groundbreaking for the new, three-bedroom ranch will be at 2 p.m tomorrow, Sunday, July 19. The house at 3385 Center St. will be the second house built in an area known as Central City in Braceville.

“I’ve been on my own for the last 13 years with the kids,” Cindy Biebuck said.

She said she has not owned a home since she was married, although she has tried.

“There is nothing out there I can afford,” she said.

Biebuck said she was not eligible for any assistance programs and had considered applying to Habitat for Humanity in the past, but was concerned with having to move out of Gardner since her youngest was still in school.

Her sons are now out of school, but both are living with her. She decided to apply because she expects her oldest son to be with her for the long term. Dusty is 28-years-old and is described by his mother as mentally disabled.

Grundy-Three Rivers Habitat for Humanity is an affiliate of the international organization and was founded locally in 1997, said board president John Latimer.

Families submit applications, which are reviewed by the Family Selection Committee and then interviewed. Applicants’ income, living conditions, family size and current situations are considered.

“But the families also have to be able to make payments on the home,” Latimer said. “We provide a no-interest loan, but they have to also be able to pay for the taxes and insurance.”

Before a family’s mortgage payments begin, the family must already be contributing through sweat-equity hours. The families are required to work 400 hours on their own house and other Habitat for Humanity projects.

The Biebucks have already been working on the Harveys’ home, located next door to their future home.

“Dusty has been out here more than the rest of us,” Cindy Biebuck said.

The Harveys’ home is about a month from completion, and Cindy Biebuck visited Wednesday to see the freshly painted bedrooms.

“Since I’ve seen it, I haven’t been able to sleep. It’s just so exciting,” Cindy Biebuck said Thursday.

The Harveys have completed their hours, but intend to be good neighbors and help construct the Biebucks’ home anyway.

“We’re still going to help since they worked on ours,” Tracy Harvey said.

The Biebucks have yet to see the plans for their future home, but know it is going to be a three-bedroom ranch. Cindy Biebuck is hoping for a gray house, but she said she isn’t picky. But Dusty Biebuck is really keeping his fingers crossed for a Cubs-themed bedroom.

“This is just such a wonderful program. They’re all so caring and giving,” Cindy Biebuck said.

Affording a Home

In recent years, Habitat for Humanity families been given higher mortgages than in previous years because of the increased cost for construction supplies.

The most recent projects have $70,000 to $75,000 mortgages, but earlier projects had $60,000 to $65,000 mortgages,  Latimer said.

“We try to keep it at the bear minimum, but in recent years the cost has increased because everything is so expensive,” he said.

The Braceville lots were purchased in the spring of 2008 by Habitat for Humanity for $25,000. The organization spent an additional $20,000 to add septic and well systems to the properties.

The mortgages are usually taken out for 20 years and are able to be so low for a brand new home because of the families’ sweat hours, professionals volunteering and donated supplies.

More supplies and volunteers are needed for the new ranch home, Latimer said.

For more information on donating or on the upcoming golf outing fundraiser for Grundy-Three Rivers Habitat for Humanity set for July 27, visit www.grundy3rivershabitat.org or call (815) 942-1452.